Optical detection device, its method for operating and computer program

Abstract

The invention relates to a light emitting device comprising a light source array which comprises a plurality of separately electrically controllable electric light sources which are arranged in a matrix structure or any other defined geometrical arrangement. Advantageously, the pixel pitch of the light source array is less than (500) nanometer. The invention further relates to an optical detection device comprising a light detection device, which is arranged for producing an electrical signal in response to light reaching a light detection side of the light detection device, and to a method for operating such an optical detection device. The invention further relates to a computer program with program coding means arranged for performing such a method.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. Optical detection device comprising a light detection device, which is arranged for producing an electrical signal in response to light reaching a light detection side of the light detection device, a light emitting device comprising a light source array which comprises a plurality of separately electrically controllable electric light sources which are arranged in a matrix structure or any other defined geometrical arrangement, a light emission side of the light source array being arranged opposite of the light detection side of the light detection device, such that light emitted from one or more electric light sources of the light source array can be detected by the light detection device, wherein the light emission side of the light source array is spaced away from the light detection side of the light detection device, forming an intermediate space between them for positioning an object to be examined with the optical detection device, characterized in that the light detection device comprises one or more single light sensor elements, the number of the light sensor elements being less than the number of the electric light sources of the light source array. 
     
     
       2. Optical detection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the light detection device is coupled with the light emitting device via a control device which is arranged for controlling the several electric light sources according to a defined activation scheme and for an integrated, synchronized processing of the data received from the light detection device. 
     
     
       3. Optical detection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the light emission side of the light source array is fully covered by the light detection side of the light detection device. 
     
     
       4. Optical detection device according to  claim 1 , wherein a pixel pitch of the light source array is less than 500 nanometer. 
     
     
       5. Optical detection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of each electric light source of the light source array is less than 500 nanometer. 
     
     
       6. Optical detection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electric light sources of the light source array are arranged for emission of light in a visible spectral range. 
     
     
       7. Optical detection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electric light sources of the light source array are light emitting diodes (LEDs). 
     
     
       8. Method for operating an optical detection device comprising:
 providing and optical detection device comprising a light detection device which is arranged for producing an electrical signal in response to light reaching a light detection side of the light detection device, a light emitting device comprising a light source array which comprises a plurality of separately electrically controllable electric light sources which are arranged in a matrix structure or any other defined geometrical arrangement, a light emission side of the light source array being arranged opposite of the light detection side of the light detection device, such that light emitted from one or more electric light sources of the light source array can be detected by the light detection device, wherein the light emission side of the light source array is spaced away from the light detection side of the light detection device, forming an intermediate space between them for positioning an object to be examined with the optical detection device, characterized in that the light detection device comprises one or more single light sensor elements, the number of the light sensor elements being less than the number of the electric light sources of the light source array; 
 separately or groupwise activating some of the electric light sources of the light source array according to a defined activation scheme for emitting light, like sequentially or according to defined patterns, 
 receiving emitted light directly from the activated electric light sources or resulting light therefrom by the light detection device, 
 capturing the electrical signals produced by the light detection device in response to light reaching the light detection side of the light detection device and/or storing the electrical signals or data representative thereof with a reference to the defined activation scheme of the light sources, 
 producing an at least two dimensional image representation of an object positioned in the intermediate space of the optical detection device from the captured and/or stored signals and/or data. 
 
     
     
       9. Method according to  claim 8 , wherein the temporal behaviour of the electrical signals produced by the light detection device in response to light reaching the light detection side of the light detection device is captured and/or stored or data representative thereof, wherein the image representation is produced using the temporal behaviour which was captured and/or stored. 
     
     
       10. Method according to  claim 8 , wherein a shadow image of an object positioned in the intermediate space is captured and evaluated. 
     
     
       11. Method according to  claim 8 , wherein the fluorescent capabilities of an object positioned in the intermediate space are captured and evaluated. 
     
     
       12. Method according to  claim 8 , wherein at least some of the electric light sources of the light source array are activated in a pulsed manner with a defined pulsing frequency. 
     
     
       13. A non-transitory storage medium encoded with a computer program executable on a computer to provide instructions for operating an optical device, the instructions comprising:
 separately or groupwise activating some of electric light sources of a light source array according to a defined activation scheme for emitting light, 
 receiving emitted light directly from activated electric light sources or resulting light therefrom by a light detection device, 
 capturing electrical signals produced by a light detection device in response to light reaching a light detection side of the light detection device and/or storing electrical signals or data representative thereof with a reference to the defined activation scheme of the light sources, 
 producing an at least two dimensional image representation of an object positioned in an intermediate space of the optical detection device from the captured and/or stored electrical signals and/or data, 
 wherein the electric light sources, the light source array, and the light detection device are included in the optical detection device, and wherein the light detection device is arranged for producing an electrical signal in response to light reaching a light detection side of the light detection device, wherein a light emitting device comprising the light source array which comprises a plurality of separately electrically controllable electric light sources which are arranged in a matrix structure or any other defined geometrical arrangement, has a light emission side of the light source array arranged opposite of the light detection side of the light detection device such that light emitted from one or more electric light sources of the light source array can be detected by the light detection device, wherein the light emission side of the light source array is spaced away from the light detection side of the light detection device, forming an intermediate space between them for positioning an object to be examined with the optical detection device, 
 characterized in that the light detection device comprises one or more single light sensor elements, the number of the light sensor elements being less than the number of the electric light sources of the light source array.